Bucket arrangement

ABSTRACT

A multi-purpose bucket arrangement comprises a first bucket portion and a second or cover bucket portion pivotally mounted thereon. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected to the bucket portions to normally pivot the second bucket portion relative to the first one. The rod ends of the cylinders are pivotally connected to the distal end of a lever mounted on the pivotal connection for the bucket portions.

1 1 3,737,059 1 June S, 1973 1 1 BUCKET ARRANGEMENT Donald H. Stroot, both of Calif. [73] Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co r d n a e L n a S m r C t e P A t r e b o R r o t n e V n l Castro Valley,

I Primary Examiner-Albert J. Maltay Peoria, 1 Assistant Examiner-John Mannix Attorney-Fryer, Tjensvold, Feix, Phillips & Lernpio [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 117,314

[57] ABSTRACT A multi-purpose bucket arrangement comprises a first 521 [1.8. Ci. .....................214/145, 214/147, 37/184 bucket Pomon and a Sewn! bucket Portion pivotally mounted thereon. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are operatively connected to the bucket portions to normally pivot the second bucket portion relative to the first one. The rod ends of the cylinders are pivotally connected to the distal end of a lever mounted on the pivotal connection for the bucket portions.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 3,187,916 6/1965 OLeary................;.............37/l83R PATENIED N 5 I975 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS ROBERT A PETERSON DONA L D H STROOT 5 I A'r'roumiYs PATENTEUJUH 51973 3.731.059

SHEET 20F 2 INVENTORS ROBE RT A PETERSON DONALD H. STROOT BUCKET ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a power operated bucket arrangement of the multi-purpose type and more particularly relates to an actuating mechanism therefor adapted to open the bucket widely while yet providing a substantially high and constant closing force thereon.

Conventional multi-purpose buckets, such as that disclosed in our assignees U. S. Pat. No. 3,148,787, are frequently employed for handling rubble created pursuant to the demolition of buildings or similar structures and in some cases are used for the actual demolition of the structure. One problem to date has been that the actuating mechanisms for such buckets are such that the closing force is generally compromised to provide a wide opening bucket. If the maximum closing force is generated nearv the closed position, the closing force is drastically reduced at the opened position.

Conversely, if the maximum closing force is generated at the opened position, then the closing force di minishes as the bucket is closed. With either of those conditions, the ability of the bucket to crush and com pact bulky rubble is greatly reduced. Without the crushing action of the bucket, large voids occur when the rubble is dumped into the hauling unit, thereby decreasing the amount of rubble that can be loaded into the hauling unit during one operation.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION This invention relates to a bucket arrangement comprising pivotally connected bucket portions and an actuating mechanism adapted to open the bucket portions widely while yet generating a substantially high and constant closing force throughout the entire closing movement thereof. In the hereinafter described preferred embodiment, the actuating means comprises a pair of extensible hydraulic cylinders each having its head end connected to a respective bucket portion. The rod ends of the cylinders are pivotally connected to the distal end of connecting means, preferably a link, having its other end pivotally mounted on one of the bucket portions.

Accordingly, it is anobject of this invention to provide a bucket arrangement having an actuating mechanism for controlling the pivotal bucket portion to expeditiously and efficiently perform the demolition and rubble-handling operations described above.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bucket arrangement adapted to be opened widely while yet generating a substantially high and constant closing force throughout the closing phase of bucket operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bucket arrangement with the ability to handle all types of material encountered in demolition and/or construction work.

A further object of this invention is 'to provide a bucket arrangement which can bite into the rubble or material to be loaded with the angle of the bucket positively controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a bucket arrangement of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the bucket arrangement in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the FIG. 1 bucket arrangement.

The preferred bucket arrangement embodiment of this invention is generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1. Such arrangement is pivotally mounted on spaced lift arms 11 by pins 12, the arms being suitably attached for vertical movement to a conventional loader (not shown). Control means (not shown) are arranged to selectively raise or lower lift arms 11 and thus bucket arrangement 10. Conventional tilt linkages 13 are suitably arranged to selectively pivot the bucket arrangement counterclockwise about pins 12 to the carry or rack-back position or clockwise about pins 12 to the dump position.

The bucket arrangement comprises a first bucket or bottom portion 14 having a second bucket or cover portion 16 pivotally mounted thereon by spaced pivot means or pins 17 whereby the second bucket portion may be pivoted between the closed and opened positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. The first bucket portion is fabricated to comprise spaced end walls 18 and a curved inner plate 19 extending between and secured to the end walls. Each pivot pin 17 is suit ably secured in aligned apertures formed in upper corners of end wall 18 and bracket 21, secured to the back of plate 19.

A cutting edge 22 of standard design is secured to the forward edge of inner plate 19 forming an extension of the floor portion of the first bucket portion. Brackets 23 are suitably secured to the back of plate 19 and mount the lift'arms and tilt linkages thereon. Additional brackets and the like may be integrated into the bucket portion to add further structural integrity thereto.

Second bucket portion 16 comprises spaced outer plates 24 secured togetherby a tubular member 26 and a front cover plate 27. The second bucketportion is further fabricated to include a standard cutting edge 28 secured to the lower edge of top portion or front plate 27 to be normally disposed adjacent to cutting edge 22 when the bucket is closed (FIG. 1). Teeth 29 may be suitably secured to one or both of the cutting edges if so desired.

Extensible and retractable actuating means, for selectively pivoting the bucket portions relative to each other, are shown in the preferred form of spaced pairs of first and second hydraulic cylinders 31 and 32, respectively. Since the actuating means and attendant mechanisms are duplicated on each lateral side of the bucket arrangement, only the mechanisms on one side thereof will be described in detail. Each cylinder 31 is disposed behind plate 19 and is pivotally mounted to the rear wall of the first bucket portion,-at a position remote from pivot means 17, by a pivot pin 33, extending through the rear comer of side walls 18 and brackets 21. The rod end of jack 31 is pivotally connected by a pin 34 to the distal or second end of a triangular lever or connecting means 36, having its first end pivotally attached to the first bucket portion on pivot pin 17.

Each hydraulic cylinder 32 is pivotally mounted to a top portion of second bucket portion 16, at a position remote from pivot pin 17, by a pivot pin 37 which extends through outer plate 24 and an inner plate 38 se-.

cured to and forming a part of the second bucket portion. The rod end of cylinder 32 is also connectedto the distal end of lever 36 by a pivot pin 39, spaced apart from pin 34. Pivot pins 34 and 39 (FIG. 1) thus form a triangular relationship with respect to pivot means 17. t i i The second bucket portion further comprises a plurality of tubular members 41 secured to inner plates 38. Cross members 42 maybe secured to members 41 to affordstructural integrity thereto and maid in preventing matter contained in the bucket arrangement from escaping therethrough. I

In operation, the bucket arrangement of this invention can be loaded with debris or the like while maintained in various operation positions. For example, the machine operator would normally approach material to be loaded with the bucket arrangement maintained in the open position illustrated in FIG. 2. Thesecond bucket portion is maintained in such open position by I retraction of cylinders 31 and 32 by conventional control means (not shown). Simultaneous extension of the cylinders will cause the second bucket portion to pivot clockwise from the open position to the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1 to crush and contain the material within the bucket arrangement.

What is claimed is: e i I l. A bucket arrangement comprising a first bucket portion, lift arm and tilt linkage means operatively conground.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein pivotal connecnected to said first bucket portion for selectively raising and pivoting said first bucket portion, a second bucket portion, pivot means pivotally attaching said first and second bucket portions together for moving said second bucket portion relative to said first bucket portion, pairs of first and second extensible and retractablepiston and cylinder means operatively connected to said 4 mote from said pivot means, and a lever having a first end thereof pivotally mounted on said pivot means and i a distal second end pivotally mounting the second ends of said first and second piston and cylinder means thereon in spaced apart relation on the second end of said lever to form a triangular relationship with respect to said pivot means whereby said lever moves from a non-operating angular position relative to the groundto an operating position substantially parallel to the tions mountingthe second ends of said actuating means on said lever are spaced apart on the second end of said lever and form a triangular relationship with respect to I said pivot means. i

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first bucket portion comprisesa floor portion having a forwardly disposed cutting edge thereon. 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said second bucket portion comprises a top portion havinga forwardly disposed cutting edge thereon, normally dis posed adjacent to the cutting'edge on said first bucket portion when said actuating meansare extended to close said bucket arrangement.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and sec ond'actuating means eachcomprise a hydraulically ac- 

1. A bucket arrangement comprising a first bucket portion, lift arm and tilt linkage means operatively connected to said first bucket portion for selectively raising and pivoting said first bucket portion, a second bucket portion, pivot means pivotally attaching said first and second bucket portions together for moving said second bucket portion relative to said first bucket portion, pairs of first and second extensible and retractable piston and cylinder means operatively connected to said first and second bucket portions on each lateral side of said bucket arrangement, said pairs of first and second extensible and retractable piston and cylinder means being connected at first ends thereof to said first and second bucket portions, respectively, at positions remote from said pivot means, and a lever having a first end thereof pivotally mounted on said pivot means and a distal second end pivotally mounting the second ends of said first and second piston and cylinder means thereon in spaced apart relation on the second end of said lever to form a triangular relationship with respect to said pivot means whereby said lever moves from a non-operating angular position relative to the ground to an operating position substantially parallel to the ground.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein pivotal connections mounting the second ends of said actuating means on said lever are spaced apart on the second end of said lever and form a triangular relationship with respect to said pivot means.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first bucket portion comprises a floor portion having a forwardly disposed cutting edge thereon.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said second bucket portion comprises a top portion having a forwardly disposed cutting edge thereon, normally disposed adjacent to the cutting edge on said first bucket portion when said actuating means are extended to close said bucket arrangement.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and second actuating means each comprise a hydraulically actuated cylinder. 